Spring suspension.



' R. E. LAYMAN.

SPRING SUSPENSION.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- I I, 1916- Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

Fig. 1

INVENTOR. 04012 Zilqyman BY Q) 01 h,

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES RALPH E. LAYMAN, or new YORK, N. Y-., A-ssrsivon. T0 LowY PATENT CORPORATION,

OF NEW YORK, .N. Y.,.A.CORPORATI01\T on NEW YORK.

SPRING SUSPENSION.

: ,21 noon.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917,

Application filed September 11, 1916. Serial No; 119,466.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH E. LAYMAN,

the following is a full, clear, and exact descri ption.

This invention relates to spring suspen: sions of that general type in which shock absorbers of relatively great height are used, and the invention has particularreference to suspensions of this type used on the front springs of automobiles. I

Ordinarily shock absorbers of the air cushion or other type, which embody a chamber made up of two sections one of which telescopes into the other, are of such height as to necessitate the same being mounted on the front of the car. One section is bolted to the front end of the frame, and the sliding section is connected to the front end of the front spring. The disadvantage of this is that since the force of the blow, when the car strikes an obstruction in the roadway, is upward and back ward, the direction of the blow pulls the sliding section against the fixed section which is cut away on the rear side to allow the spring to move upward and downward, with consequent weakening of the shock absorber since no bearing surface for the sliding section exists where it is most needed, that is, at the rear side of the shock absorber.

The present invention provides a construction in which the shock absorber of the above described type is secured to the frame in the rear of the front axle, and is attached to the front spring in rear of the front axle, preferably to the rear end of the spring. In this position the sliding section will have a full bearing surface against the rear of the shock absorber to take the direct force of the blow so that easy riding qualities are promoted with minimum disrupting stress on the shock absorber.

The invention can be readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the chassis constructed in accordance with my invention. i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 isv an enlarged side elevation of another embodiment of the invention.

Figs. 4 and 5 are detailedsectional views showing different ways of attaching the front spring to the shock absorber.

In the: present embodiment of the invention I have illustrated the use of a shock absorber of awell know-11 type and comprising an air chamber made up of two sections one of whichtelescopes'into the other. In carrying out the invention I attach the outer section or casing 10 to the frame 11 of the chassis in rear of the front axle l2. I attach the sliding section or piston 13 to the front spring 14 in rear of the axle, preferably to the extreme rear end of said front spring. Since the extreme height of this type of shock absorber will cause the shock absorber to extend considerably above the chassis frame, I ofl'setthe front spring and the chassis frame relativelyto each other, preferably by deflecting the frame outward in rear of the front axle so as to be out of vertical alinement with the front spring, as best shown in Fig. 1, this offsetting of the frame permitting of the shock absorber extending vertically upward in operative position as illustrated.

In attachingthe shock absorber I may secure the front end of the front spring to the frame by means of a shackle 15, and pivot the rear end of the spring to the sliding section of the shock absorber, as shown at 16 in Fig. 5, or if desired, may pivot the front end of the spring to the frame, as shown at 17 in Fig. 3, and secure the rear end of the spring to the sliding section be limited to the exact construction shown as various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

I claim:

1. In an automobile chassis, the combination of a front axle, a front spring, a frame, and a shock absorber connecting the frame and the spring in the rear of the axle, the frame and the spring being relatively offset to support the shock absorber in operative position.

2. In an automobile chassis, the combination of a front axle, a front spring, a fr; me having a portion in rear of the axle offset to extend out of vertical alinement with the spring, and a shock absorber connected to the spring and extending upward past and being connected to the offset portion of the frame.

3. In an anton'iobile chassis, the combination of a front axle, a front spring, a frame having a portion in rear of the axle offset to extend out of vertical alinenient with. the spring and a shock absorber comprising rel atively movable sections one of which is connected to and extends above the offset portion. of the frame, and the other of which is connected to the rear end of the spring.

4. In an automobile chassis, the combination of a front axle, a front spring, a frame, and a shock absorber including an outer casing fixed to the frame, a sliding piston in the casing bearing against the rear wall of the casing throughout, the front wall of the casing being cut away and receiving the rear end of said front spring, and means connecting said spring to said piston.

In an automobile chassis, the combination of a front axle, a front spring, a frame having a portion in rear of the front axle offset to extend out of vertical. alinement with the spring, and a telescopic air spring having an outer casing secured to the offset portion of the frame and at its front wall cut away to receive the rear end of said front spring, a piston in the casing bearing throughout against the rear wall of the casing, and means connecting said front spring to said piston.

Signed at New York, in the count); of New York, and State of New York, this 9th day of September, 191G.

RALPH E. LAYh IAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of .fiatents,

Washington, I). C. 1 

